Even though I’m practicing appreciating our house as it is I still enjoy thinking of minor and more significant projects I’d love to do around the house. Improving and cozifying the house is a hobby of mine that makes me really happy. So as long as I don’t let not being able to do a project or renovation get me down then I’m OK with keeping a running wish list of house projects. Plus, sometimes the act of writing something down lets me let go of it. I don’t have to dwell on wanting something because it’s captured on a list so it doesn’t have to occupy my thoughts.
So here’s a mega list of everything I’d love to do around the house if money were no object. Some of these are small and completely do-able things that we likely will do and I hope over time I’ll cross these off. Others are “keep dreaming!” kind of projects that we’ll either never do or would only consider doing if we decided this is our forever house and we want to make significant financial investments in upgrades.
HOUSE
+ Fresh coat of paint on house exterior and backyard wall. I’d love to use colors that are a bit more interesting and modern. Right now our house is dark tan with lighter trim. Yawn. Currently, some of the paint on our house is peeling so this is an investment we expect to make perhaps as early as next year.
+ New floors. I’d love to replace most of the carpet and all of the tile throughout the house with porcelain wood plank tiles. This is definitely a “keep dreaming!” status.
+ Paint interior walls. We had this done during summer 2015! I’m still so in love with our new color (Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore) and the cohesive feel of our home. We spent $2,500 to have the house painted and it’s felt like money very well spent. I like our home so much better now with a modern, neutral color on all the walls.
FRONT YARD
+ Landscape with native plants. Ideally we’d love to get rid of the grass because it uses so much water and also add some character. I’d like our yard to be full of interesting succulents, desert-adapted grasses, cacti and a tree to provide habitat and food for insects and animals and to add character to our yard and house. We got quotes on this last summer and it’s pretty expensive (probably around $7,000 at the low end) and so I’m not sure this will ever be a priority. But perhaps we could add some new plants and a tree and find an in-between.
+ Install yard lighting to highlight plants.
+ Make our front porch more welcoming. I’m thinking some potted plants, additional furniture and/or some type of art or wall hanging.
BACKYARD
These photos were taken recently and we’ve just had the grass cut short to be over-seeded with winter grass. In a few weeks it should be green again, although we are weighing whether the extra cost and extra water is worth it to have winter grass.
+ Paint block wall. We will have this done when we have the exterior of the house painted within the next few years. The house we rented our first year in Arizona had the backyard block wall painted a muted gold color and I loved it so that’s what I have in mind. It really made succulents pop against it.
+ Add an outdoor rug to the patio.
+ Extend the concrete patio so there’s more room for seating.
+ String globe lights around the porch and to the two nearby trees.
+ Add plants to the empty planters in the grill area.
+ Add lighting to the grill area.
+ Turn the south side yard into an interesting, nature-inspired play area for the boys.
+ Add plants and vines to the north side yard. Two bedroom windows look out to the north side yard (Dashiell’s room and the office) and it’s a very drab view plus we keep our recycling and trash bins here. I think some colorful plants and vines would really help make it a better view.
FRONT ROOM
+ Paint the back of the front door. Done! Inspiration from Erica.
+ Ottoman for the love seat.
+ Rug under the dining table. This would offset that area as well as protect the carpet from food-flinging children who shall remain nameless.
KITCHEN
+ Paint or replace cabinets. We had the cabinets painted!
+ Replace blinds. We choose sheer white cellular shades that pull down. They were installed after these pictures were taken but we’re really happy with them.
+ Replace countertops. Maybe DIY concrete counters – ? Is it crazy or genius…
+ Replace sink and faucet.
+ Install roll-out shelves in the island for easier access to pots and pans.
GREAT ROOM
+ Paint walls. Done!
+ Replace blinds. We choose sheer white cellular shades that pull down. They were installed after these pictures were taken but we’re really happy with them.
+ Replace orange couch/possibly get a sectional. Or at least repair it; there are a few broken springs. I think we’ll wait until our boys are older and not as likely to have sticky hands before getting new furniture.
+ Add throw pillows.
+ Grow our gallery wall of framed art and photographs. My mom helped me update our gallery wall when she visited this month, I’m so happy with the new look.
+ Get rid of television and replace with a projector. When we had the house painted we used the opportunity to ditch our television. Eventually we’d like to buy a projector and screen to use for family movie nights including backyard movies!
MASTER BEDROOM
+ Hang more art on the walls. I’ve been thinking about a collection like this for above our headboard.
+ Recover the headboard we DIYed. We also originally made it when we had a queen bed so we might want to make a new, bigger one. But either way I’d love to use a fabric with pattern or in a fun color.
MASTER BATHROOM
+ Paint cabinets and replace cabinet hardware. We replaced the drawer handles and have the hardware for the cabinets but haven’t put them on yet!
+ Paint mirror frames.
+ Replace light fixture with something more modern.
+ Replace window blinds with translucent window film. We’ve been half-through this project for an embarrassingly long time. We got one window done during a day date and haven’t mustered the energy to do the other one post bedtime.
GUEST BATHROOM
+ Paint cabinets and replace cabinet hardware. Same situation on the hardware as our master bathroom.
+ Paint mirror frame.
+ Replace light fixture with something more modern.
+ Add more art.
DASHIELL’S ROOM
*photo to be added! Whenever I’m working on this Dash is usually asleep in his room.*
We’ve left this room very plain so far because we just haven’t needed much in this room other than a place for Dash to sleep. But I would like to give it more personality. It’s also a possibility that at some point we’ll have the boys share a bedroom, either this room or the nursery room, which will require some more rearranging.
+ Add art.
+ Hang an acrylic mirror (like the one in the nursery).
+ Organize Dashiell’s clothes in the closet. His clothes are currently still in the dresser in the nursery.
NURSERY
*likewise with Cedric’s room but we’ve kept the room the same since we prepared it for Dashiell*
Both lovely and functional at the moment, no changes needed! But perhaps in the future this will be a shared room for the boys or a playroom/guest room.
OFFICE
*photo to be added!*
+ Paint walls. This is the only room that we’ve never painted. I’d love to get some Owl Gray on the walls.
+ Create an inspiration wall. I love working in our office but it’s pretty bland. I’d love a large cork board or other set up for inspiring images or words.
Writing out this list actually makes improving our home feel more do-able instead of overwhelming because I can see specific steps that we can take, plus I can see where we’re already crossing things off the list. I’ll plan to update this list over time and share our progress.
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